John Minto facts for kids
John Minto (born around 1953) is a well-known political activist from New Zealand. He is famous for his work with groups that fight for social justice and fairness. He is best known for leading a group called Halt All Racist Tours.
For his work, Minto was listed as number 89 in a 2005 TV show about New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers. He has been involved with many groups, including Global Peace and Justice Auckland and the Unite Union. He also used to write a column for The Press newspaper.
Minto was a high school teacher at Hornby High School for many years and retired in 2018. He has also been a leader in groups that support public education and was a co-vice-president of the Mana Movement.
Activist Career
An activist is someone who works hard to bring about political or social change. Minto has been an activist for most of his life, focusing on issues he believes are important.
Fighting Apartheid with HART
In 1969, a group called Halt All Racist Tours (HART) was formed. Its goal was to stop sports teams from touring to and from South Africa. At the time, South Africa had a system called Apartheid, where Black people were treated unfairly and kept separate from white people by law.
Minto became the leader of HART in 1980. In 1981, he led major protests against the tour of the South African rugby team, the Springboks, in New Zealand. The protests were sometimes dangerous. After being hurt by rugby fans at a protest, Minto started wearing a protective helmet, which became a famous part of his protest gear.
In 2021, Minto helped organize events across New Zealand to remember the 40th anniversary of the 1981 tour protests.
Supporting Palestinian Causes
Minto is also a strong supporter of the Palestinian people. This is part of a long and complex conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine.
Protests at Tennis Tournaments
In 2009 and 2010, Minto led protests at a tennis tournament in Auckland. He was protesting against an Israeli player, Shahar Pe'er, who had served in the Israel Defense Forces. Minto wanted her to speak out against her government's actions. Pe'er said that politics had nothing to do with her tennis and continued to play.
During the 2010 protest, Minto was one of five people arrested. He was later found not guilty of the charge.
Leading the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
By 2021, Minto was the Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA). This group organized protests during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis. The PSNA supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which encourages people and organizations to put pressure on Israel to change its policies towards Palestinians.
Response to the 2023–2024 Gaza War
When the Gaza war began in October 2023, Minto continued his activism. He criticized the Auckland War Memorial Museum for lighting up its building in the colours of the Israeli flag. He said that while he condemned the attack by Hamas, the government should also condemn Israeli attacks that harmed Palestinian civilians.
In May 2024, Minto joined a protest outside the home of Foreign Minister Winston Peters. They demanded that New Zealand restore funding to a United Nations agency helping Palestinian refugees.
The Controversial Hotline
In January 2025, Minto's group, the PSNA, created a hotline. They asked New Zealanders to report Israeli citizens of military age who were on holiday in the country. This action caused a lot of controversy.
Groups like the New Zealand Jewish Council and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand said the hotline was dangerous and could put the Jewish community at risk. The Human Rights Commission called it "potentially harmful." Minto defended the hotline, saying it was not anti-Jewish but was meant to send a message to Israeli soldiers that New Zealanders did not support their actions.
Arrest During a Protest
In May 2025, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a report. It found that police had unlawfully pepper-sprayed and arrested Minto during a pro-Palestinian protest in February 2024. The IPCA report said there was little evidence to support the police's charges against him.
Political Career
Minto has also been involved in politics by running for office.
Running for Mayor
In 2013, Minto ran for mayor of Auckland as a candidate for the Mana Movement. In 2016, he ran for mayor of Christchurch with a group called The Keep Our Assets.
Internet Mana Party
Minto was a candidate for the Internet Mana party in the 2014 general election. He was ranked fourth on the party's list of candidates.
Views and Positions
COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Minto said he supported getting vaccinated. However, he disagreed with the government's rule that certain workers, like teachers and nurses, had to be vaccinated to keep their jobs. He believed this gave the government too much power.
Personal Life
Since 2014, Minto has lived in Waltham, a suburb of Christchurch. The famous sculptor Llew Summers was his brother-in-law.
See also
- Halt All Racist Tours
- 1981 Springbok Tour
